h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm just back from a music and arts festival called the Electric Picnic. Some people will need no further description if I say one word "Glastonburyesque".

The festival was in Stradbally, about 50 miles from Dublin. The grounds of a big estate are given over to the festival for the weekend, starting on Friday and ending tomorrow morning at about 4am. We drove down on Friday evening and were worn out by about 7pm this evening so we came home.

There are bands playing on about 10 different stages at the same time; there are sculptures, poetry readings, a circus, a carnival, and food everywhere - hundreds of booths selling everything from falafels to pies to gourmet burgers.

The bands we saw were:

Rodrigo y Gabrielle (flamenco guitarists)
Kid Creole and the Coconuts
The Klaxons (rock)
Madness
The Dublin Gospel Choir
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (eight brothers from Chicago playing hot brass)
The Wailers (Bob Marley's Band)

We went to see Fossett's Circus, and attended a demonstration of the launching of a Saturn 5 rocket and a Space SHuttle.

A good weekend.

Many people camped for the weekend, but we were kindly offered a bed in a nearby house by a relation so we had comfy beds although we had to walk for about 30 minutes to get there.

The mud was just incredible, due to a lot of rain in the past few days. Luckily it didn't rain on Friday or Saturday, and only in the afternoon on Sunday.

My word! Is Kid Creole still around? Is Coati Mundi still with him?

Oh Annie/ I'm not your daddy...

I thought Kid Creole was old in the eighties. He looks younger now! The coconuts are different girls, but it's the same Kid Creole. He wore a yellow suit with a black shirt.

>> The coconuts are different girls,

I wonder why that is?

Glad the fine weather I ordered for Saturday spread that far!

The Coconuts are a backing group. If one of them leaves and is replaced by another girl, they're still the Coconuts. This has happened over the years, so they're as young as they ever were. I've discovered that Kid Creole is now 59. He's a wonderful performer.

Some of those sound interesting.

I saw Madness at Romsey in July - they were fantastic.

Rodrigo y Gabriela are fantastic. Their version of Stairway is absolutely wonderful:

http://www.last.fm/music/Rodrigo+y+Gabriela/_/Stairway+To+Heaven

My first job was teaching classical guitar in the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Most people who came along wanted to learn either Classical Gas or Stairway to Heaven.

I thinmk you'll find this to be a cut above the rest, Recumbentman

Dear Recumbentman,

I tried to learn to play the classical guitar when I was about 35.

Although I had played the 'cello, I had to admit defeat. The strings hurt my fingers, I just could not cope. and I am trying to remember the name of the classical guitarist whom I was aiming to emulate.

What a wonderful gift to have. I wish that I had been able to conquer it. Yet to so many people it just comes "naturally".

Go well,

Christiane
AR80

Thursday 10th se[tem,ber 2009 8.55 BST

Sorry to hear your sad tale Christiane. Playing one instrument well is not always preparation for playing another!

Were you hoping to emulate Julian Bream? John Williams? Segovia? I heard Segovia live in Paris in 1965, in Salle Pleyel, an enormous hall. He played with no amplification and we were in the worst seats but heard every note.

I find that adult beginners are incredibly hard on themselves. They simply can't forgive themselves for not knowing everything already. Is that what being an adult means?

But it doesn't come naturally to anyone, not even "naturally". What comes naturally to some is an ability to mess around while noticing things, and enough of that will get you familiar enough with the territory to look "natural".

Segovia Lucky, fortunate, how totally. absolutely wonderful.

No! I was always hard on myself. I was no great shakes as a 'cellist,But once I had leanrt my Piano then I could manage. but I was also a lousy sight reader. !!

O very early gave up on my own musical ability and preferred to hear others palying beautiful music instead of my poor efforts. !!
My inadequate ability mever made me lose my love of music.
My sister inherited all the talent. She is very musical.

Nice to chat to you.

CME

You have actually heard Segovia playing in that famous Salle Pleyal. How fortunate, how totally. absolutely wonderful.

No! I was always hard on myself. I was no great shakes as a 'cellist,But once I had leanrt my Piano then I could just manage. but I was also a lousy sight reader. !!

I very early gave up on my own musical ability and preferred to hear others playing beautiful music instead of my poor efforts. !!
My inadequate ability mever made me lose my love of music.
My sister inherited all the familial talent. She is very musical.

Nice to chat to you.

CME

Well done R'man, for going to see Segovia back in those days. Very often tickets for big names are too expensive for young people who then spend the rest of their lives cursing themselves for not having gone to the concert.

When I was young and poor I didn't have many opportunities, but I do remember being impressed by Tamas Vasary, playing in King's College Cambridge, and I also went to a Paco de Lucia concert somewhere in Madrid (but someone else paid for the ticket).